Controling Temperatures is Not Enough To Stop Mold
How great would it be to control not only the temperature of the room, but also the humidity so the indoor climate remains comfortable all year? Well-managed air quality can increase customers’ satisfaction and the value of your property. Well, you will be happy to hear that the possibility exists with the use of a PTAC and dehumidifier system.
What is a PTAC?
PTAC is short for packaged terminal air conditioner, which means that the ductless, self-contained air conditioning unit heats and cools small areas. These units can reliably control the temperature in an area of up to 800 square feet or more, depending on the size of the unit and layout of the space it’s working in. You’ve likely seen them before, as packaged terminal air conditioners are commonly used in hotels and motels across the country.
Benefits of PTACs
PTACs cut costs and increase energy efficiency, which makes them popular with hotels, senior living, dorms, student housing, military barracks, and apartments. Because they give control to the individual users, they are popular heating and cooling choices for tenants and vacationers as well.
When considering the many ways to control the atmosphere in a hotel, apartment, student housing, military barracks, or any other small to mid-size living arrangement, a PTAC is often one of the better options. PTACs are ductless systems and compared to HVAC systems, are much easier to install, have lower overall costs, are easier to repair and clean, and they offer more energy efficiency. With PTAC systems installed into different apartment spaces, it allows the tenants to control the temperature as desired in their environment, versus an HVAC system which doesn’t allow varying temperatures throughout the building. Plus, with a PTAC unit, both the heating and cooling of the space is taken care of with one unit.
Think About Protecting Your Investment
You have a PTAC unit installed now, so what more do you need to consider for the atmosphere in a living unit? PTAC units can handle any heating or cooling in their space, but you still need to manage the humidity in the air. Relative humidity is the humidity level in an enclosed area, and in a living space it can accumulate from day-to-day activities such as showering, cooking, cleaning, and more. On average, a family of four emits 25 pints of water per day into the air through their normal activities, and if this water has nowhere to go, it can cause damage to their living space. In the past, humidity buildup would have escaped through cracks in windows and doors. As construction techniques have improved to maximize efficiency and comfort, the resulting elimination of escaping air prevents this humidity from leaking out. This humidity affects multiple living conditions, including relative temperature, and if not properly maintained can provide ideal environments for mold growth. If not addressed, mold growth can lead to property damage and unsafe living conditions.
The Best Choice for Dehumidification
Dehumidification is truly one of the best ways to prevent mold growth in today’s efficiently constructed apartments and homes. Dehumidification is needed to remove moisture from the air and help lower relative humidity (RH). Supplemental dehumidification with a built-in humidistat will monitor and adjust indoor RH levels to prevent moisture and lower humidity levels.
Many traditional dehumidification units require apartment tenants’ cooperation to maintain the units, which they can be reluctant to give. The ideal solution? PTAC combined with a dehumidification unit that doesn’t need to be emptied.
The IW25-4 named Best Overall System by Home Air Advisor
IW25-4 Wall Mounted Dehumidifier with Combined Bi-Polar Ionizer. The name is a mouthful, but deservedly so, based on its performance (with national awards to prove it). This tamper-proof and tankless dehumidifier mounts on the wall in an apartment, hotel room, dorm or military barrack and helps to control humidity in up to 1500 square feet, stopping mold and mildew before they have a chance to grow. Since it drains into existing plumbing, there’s no need to empty a tank.
A simple road map here will point the way to long-lasting comfort:
- What is a PTAC Unit? It’s a ductless unit mounted to an exterior wall that heats and cools small areas.
- Can a PTAC also dehumidify spaces? No, you need a separate dehumidifier.
- What’s so special about the IW25-4? This wall-mounted dehumidifier with a combined bi-polar ionizer offers a slim design that can be recessed and drains into existing plumbing. It can remove up to 25 pints of water per day from your home and is tankless and noiseless. Most importantly, it prevents harmful mold and mildew from growing, which can cause health hazards and ruin property.
A PTAC Unit with a dehumidifier like the IW25-4 offers a comfortable living atmosphere for small to mid-size living accommodations, plus, they provide an ideal solution to mold prevention. PTAC units are easy to install yourself if you’re familiar with home renovation, and the IW25-4 dehumidifier is even easier! Featured is an image of a PTAC unit and dehumidifier next to one another in a dorm room. Both are mounted into the wall where they are out of the way, and the dehumidifier drains straight into the PTAC unit, so it requires no regular maintenance.
